It was said in our columns the other day that this officer was the stepson of the late
Frederick Boyden.
This is a mistake.
He was the son of the late
Beverly Heth, of Powhatan, his mother having been a daughter of the late
Robert Gusthmey of this city.
Lieut. Heth was about twenty-two years old. He was a remarkably fine, high-spirited youth, full of fire, patriotism, and enthusiasm for the cause.
He had an excellent mind, much improved by reading, to which he had been greatly addicted.
From his childhood he was remarkable for the extreme openness and candor of his nature, and his high regard for truth.
He was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, where he bore so high a character that he was appointed 2d
Lieutenant in the
Confederate service by
President Davis, while the
Government was still at
Montgomery.
In that grade he served in the Irish company, commanded by
Capt. Seddon.
We understand that both his superior officers were absent from sickness at the time of the battle and that he commanded the company.--It could not have been commanded by a braver men, or (considering his youth) a better soldier.
He originally brought the men from
Staunton, where they enlisted, and had a large share in drilling them, rendering them one of the most effective corps in the service.
The warm-hearted Irishmen, attracted by his generics temper and fenceless character, were enthusiastically devoted to him.
We have hitherto spoken of
Lieut. Heth in the past tense.
There is a hope, however, that he is still alive.
One of his relatives received a dispatch announcing that he was "severely wounded" and had fallen into the hands of the enemy.
We trust that the hope may prove well founded.
He has numerous relatives and friends in this city, where he has resided since he was three years old.--May he be restored to them, and to the service of which he was an ornament.
Lieut. Heth was (or 1) a first cousin of
General Henry Heth, of the
Confederate service.
P. S.--We regret to say that from information Serived from a letter, and from a wounded soldier now in this city, but faint hopes are left of
Lieut. H. being still alive, The soldier in question says they were truth wounded and borns off at the same time.
Lieut. H. was carried off on a board, and was supported by
Dr. Meade and
Lieut. White.
He had been struck by a Minto ball, which passed entirely through the abdomen, and was suffering so greatly that when the soldier spoke to him he made no reply.
He was left at
Newtown, where he fall into the hands of Yankees.
A braver and nobler spirit never existed.
Cut down in the very morning of his days, in his first battle, who is there that can read his false without a tear?
He commanded his company, and fought with the are very of a lion.
